Just one hour after thousands of Palestinian worshipers entered the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound in occupied East Jerusalem for the first time in nearly two weeks, clashes erupted inside the holy site, as Israeli forces fired tear gas and rubber-coated steel bullets at worshipers.
The Palestinian Red Crescent released a statement saying that its crews had provided at least 94 worshipers with medical care. According to the group, some worshipers were treated for rubber-coated steel bullet injuries and tear gas inhalation, while others were physically assaulted and pepper sprayed by Israeli forces.
As clashes took place inside the compound, Israeli forces closed the Remission Gate (Bab al-Hutta) entrance to the compound, which was the last gate to be opened on Thursday afternoon before thousands of worshipers poured in for afternoon Asr prayers.
Israelis fire tear gas at Palestinians in al-Aqsa @AJEnglish
https://t.co/2ospylP0ry pic.twitter.com/ngFbIRDOtp— Barbara Garattini (@BGarattini) July 27, 2017
Israeli soldiers also took down the Palestinian flags that worshipers had raised atop Al-Aqsa Mosque in celebration when they entered the compound.
By 7 p.m., Israeli forces were reportedly only allowing women and the elderly into the compound, according to witnesses.
Israeli police spokesman Micky Rosenfeld said in a statement that “after thousands of people entered the Temple Mount this afternoon,” referring to the Israeli term for the Al-Aqsa compound, “stones were thrown at police units.”
Rosenfeld said that “a number of stones thrown at the Western Wall,” and that “(Israeli) police units cleared the area to prevent injuries,” adding that “a number of (Palestinian) flags were taken down.”
#Israeli special forces threatening Palestinian women inside #alAqsa compound. #Jerusalem video by rami Khattib pic.twitter.com/3romoq2jbg
— Khaled FX (@FxKhalid) July 27, 2017
Israeli police units remained in the area, according to Rosenfeld, who said the situation was “under control” and that Israeli forces were “ready to respond to any incidents or riots.”
The clashes came just hours after Israeli forces reopened all the gates to the compound on Thursday afternoon, in what was celebrated as a victory by Palestinian Jerusalemites who had been participating in a 13-day long civil disobedience campaign against Israeli-imposed security measures at the holy site.
Meanwhile, Israeli news outlet Arutz Sheva reported on Thursday that Israeli police chief in Jerusalem Yoram Halevy had threatened Palestinian worshipers should they keep up with mass demonstrations. “If they try to disrupt the order tomorrow, there will be casualties,” Halevy said. “Do not try us. We know how to react vigorously.”
This was Maghrib tonight at al Aqsa #salaah #victory #MasjidAlAqsa #alaqsa pic.twitter.com/6wapzDA9QI
— Masjid al Aqsa (@firstqiblah) July 27, 2017
In the span of ten days, four Palestinian demonstrators were killed by Israelis and more than 1,000 others were injured, as Israeli NGO B’Tselem accused Israel of displaying “sweeping disregard” for Palestinian lives in East Jerusalem.
Israeli forces have raided Palestinian hospitals, closed off parts of East Jerusalem’s Old City, carried out massive detention campaigns, and violently clashed with Palestinians across East Jerusalem and the occupied West Bank, leaving Palestinian journalists, medics, and children injured in the process.
(Maan, PC, Social Media)
